When we turned eighteen though, everything shifted. Nicholai tried to dominate me, and in turn I tried to dominate him. Our powers were matched, our lust was matched, and our hatred for mankind was matched. We went out to the tavern together and worked the room. He would flirt with the women, stroke their faces with his strong hands, compliment them, use his charm and smoldering eyes to seduce them into bed with him. I, however, would dance around the room. Without uttering a compliment I would have the attention of every hungry man and every envious woman in the tavern. I would spin and step gracefully, stare into the eyes of my victim, capture his heart and soul in the swirling of my dress, make his body jolt with the curl of my lips and circling hips. I would take that victim home and lure him into my room. I would have completely drained his life before he was able to unbutton his trousers. Nicholai, on the other hand, would play with his victim to "get his fill" as he would tell me often. I got my fill through the victim's life, the energy would make me feel alive. I suppose I was a fraction less of a sadist than he was.
One night we did not reach the tavern. Nicholai and I spotted a couple of maidens, one auburn, one blonde. I could feel their abnormal energy, how had we not felt these maidens before? They were inhuman killers like ourselves, their eyes caught ours and I smiled.
"Fair maidens," I said, "it is a pleasure to catch your eye."
The auburn maiden smiled. "Dear lady, the pleasure is most certainly ours." Her emerald green eyes flickered to Nicholai. "Is he your husband?"
"No, I am not." Nicholai said. He took the maiden's hand and kissed it sweetly.
"My good sir," she laughed, "what, may I inquire, do you want?" Her eyes locked onto his dangerously, craving his attention like a famined cat craves food.
"You, fair maiden," he glanced at the shy blonde maiden half hiding behind the famined cat, "and your fair friend."
I could tell that the blonde was far less experienced than all of us due to her blushing and giggling at Nicholai's halfhearted compliment. I took her arm and began guiding her to my cathedral. "Sweet maiden, what is your name?" I asked.
"Alyanna, dear lady." She peeked at my sparkling chocolate brown eyes. "What is your name?"
"Nyma."
"Nyma, where are you leading me?" Panic was edging into her voice.
"My home." I opened the door to the cathedral and held it for her. "Please come inside, there is no need to be frightened." I gave her a kind smile to ease her mind.
She walked inside with little hesitation and observed the candles "There are so many." She whispered.
I closed the door and stood next to her. "Would you like me to light them for you?"
She took my hand and looked at me with childlike wonder. "Would you?"
"The flames are so beautiful." She walked close to a cluster of candles and smiled at the flames. "I love fire."
She smiled excitedly at me.
Nicholai and the other maiden, who I would come to know as Netta, were not home yet. Alyanna and I were not bothered by that, we were enjoying our time alone. We started to dance with each other, the flames, our muses. We held each others' hips, spun wildly and circled through the candles, brushing our hands over each flame. We moved like each hot lick, getting close, our bodies touching and splitting apart just to come back again. We danced like that for a while, closing our eyes, allowing the flames to take us over and guide our movements.
Then Nicholai walked into the cathedral with Netta hanging on his arm, he was clapping. "She learns well." He grinned cockily as if he taught her how to dance. I wanted nothing more than to obliterate that cocky grin from his obnoxious face.
I laughed as Alyanna and I continued to dance. "Yes, but does she?" I jerked my head in Netta's direction. Nicholai and Netta's grins faded. Perfect. I danced closer and closer to Alyanna until our bodies were so close, it was as if we had melted into each other. I pulled her hair back gently and kissed her, holding my lips there. I smirked at Nicholai as I pulled my lips from hers, Nicholai was red with envy.
"Come Alyanna, let me show you to your room, if you will have it." I said taking her hand.
Alyanna nodded breathlessly and smiled wide, her hazel eyes gleaming. I stole another look at Nicholai's angry face and laughed. Is it wrong that I enjoyed the burning fury in his eyes? Of course not.